| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1Samuel told Saul, "The LORD sent me to anoint you king over his people, Israel. Now listen to the words of the LORD. | 1Then Samuel said to Saul, "I was the one the LORD sent to anoint you as king over his people Israel. Now listen to what the LORD says. |
| 2This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: 'I'll punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, when he set himself against Israel in the way, as they were going up from Egypt. | 2Here is what the LORD of hosts says: 'I carefully observed how the Amalekites opposed Israel along the way when Israel came up from Egypt. |
| 3Now, go and attack Amalek. Completely destroy all that they have. Don't spare them, but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, both ox and sheep, camel and donkey.'" | 3So go now and strike down the Amalekites. Destroy everything that they have. Don't spare them. Put them to death--man, woman, child, infant, ox, sheep, camel, and donkey alike.'" |
| 4Saul summoned the people and mustered them in Telaim, 200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men from Judah. | 4So Saul assembled the army and mustered them at Telaim. There were 200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah. |
| 5Saul came to the city of Amalek and set an ambush in the valley. | 5Saul proceeded to the city of Amalek, where he set an ambush in the wadi. |
| 6Saul told the Kenites, "Withdraw from the Amalekites so that I don't destroy you with them, for you showed kindness to all the Israelis when they departed from Egypt." So the Kenites withdrew from the Amalekites. | 6Saul said to the Kenites, "Go on and leave! Go down from among the Amalekites! Otherwise I will sweep you away with them! After all, you were kind to all the Israelites when they came up from Egypt." So the Kenites withdrew from among the Amalekites. |
| 7Saul attacked the Amalekites from Havilah to Shur, which is east of Egypt. | 7Then Saul struck down the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, which is next to Egypt. |
| 8He captured alive Agag king of Amalek, but he completely destroyed all the people, executing them with swords. | 8He captured King Agag of the Amalekites alive, but he executed all Agag's people with the sword. |
| 9Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle—the fattened animals and lambs—along with all that was good. They were not willing to completely destroy them, but they did completely destroy everything that was worthless and inferior. | 9However, Saul and the army spared Agag, along with the best of the flock, the cattle, the fatlings, and the lambs, as well as everything else that was of value. They were not willing to slaughter them. But they did slaughter everything that was despised and worthless. |
| 10This message from the LORD came to Samuel: | 10Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel: |
| 11"I regret that I made Saul king, because he has turned away from following me and has not carried out my commands." Samuel was angry, and he cried out to the LORD all night. | 11"I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned away from me and has not done what I told him to do." Samuel became angry and he cried out to the LORD all that night. |
| 12Samuel got up early in the morning to meet Saul, but Samuel was told, "Saul went up to Carmel to set up a monument for himself. Then he turned around and traveled on to Gilgal." | 12Then Samuel got up early to meet Saul the next morning. But Samuel was informed, "Saul has gone to Carmel where he is setting up a monument for himself. Then Samuel left and went down to Gilgal." |
| 13Samuel approached Saul. "May the LORD bless you," Saul said. "I've carried out the LORD's command." | 13When Samuel came to him, Saul said to him, "May the LORD bless you! I have done what the LORD said." |
| 14Samuel said, "Then what is this bleating of sheep in my ears and the lowing of cattle that I hear?" | 14Samuel replied, "If that is the case, then what is this sound of sheep in my ears and the sound of cattle that I hear?" |
| 15Saul replied, "They brought them from the Amalekites. The people spared the best of the sheep and cattle to offer sacrifices to the LORD your God, and the rest they completely destroyed." | 15Saul said, "They were brought from the Amalekites; the army spared the best of the flocks and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD our God. But everything else we slaughtered." |
| 16"Be quiet!" Samuel said. "I'll tell you what the LORD told me last night." Saul told him, "Speak." | 16Then Samuel said to Saul, "Wait a minute! Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night." Saul said to him, "Tell me." |
| 17So Samuel replied, "Is it not true that though you were small in your own eyes you became head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed you king over Israel? | 17Samuel said, "Is it not true that when you were insignificant in your own eyes, you became head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD chose you as king over Israel. |
| 18The LORD sent you on a mission: 'Go and completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they're destroyed.' | 18The LORD sent you on a campaign saying, 'Go and exterminate those sinful Amalekites! Fight against them until you have destroyed them.' |
| 19Why didn't you obey the LORD, but grabbed the spoil and did evil in the LORD's sight?" | 19Why haven't you obeyed the LORD? Instead you have greedily rushed upon the plunder! You have done what is wrong in the LORD's estimation." |
| 20Saul told Samuel, "I did obey the LORD. I went on the mission on which the LORD sent me, I brought Agag king of Amalek, and I completely destroyed the Amalekites. | 20Then Saul said to Samuel, "But I have obeyed the LORD! I went on the campaign the LORD sent me on. I brought back King Agag of the Amalekites after exterminating the Amalekites. |
| 21The people took some of the spoil—sheep, cattle, and the best of what was to be completely destroyed—to sacrifice to the LORD your God at Gilgal." | 21But the army took from the plunder some of the sheep and cattle--the best of what was to be slaughtered--to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal." |
| 22Samuel said, "Does the LORD delight as much in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the LORD? Surely, to obey is better than sacrifice, to pay attention is better than the fat of rams. | 22Then Samuel said, "Does the LORD take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as he does in obedience? Certainly, obedience is better than sacrifice; paying attention is better than the fat of rams. |
| 23Indeed, rebellion is the sin of divination, and arrogance is iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected this message from the LORD, he has rejected you from being king." | 23For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and presumption is like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king." |
| 24"I've sinned," Saul replied to Samuel. "I've broken the LORD's command and your word, because I was afraid of the people and listened to them. | 24Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned, for I have disobeyed what the LORD commanded and what you said as well. For I was afraid of the army, and I followed their wishes. |
| 25Now, please forgive my sin and return with me so I may worship the LORD." | 25Now please forgive my sin! Go back with me so I can worship the LORD." |
| 26Samuel told Saul, "I won't return with you because you have rejected the message from the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel." | 26Samuel said to Saul, "I will not go back with you, for you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel!" |
| 27As Samuel turned to go Saul seized him by the corner of his robe, and it tore. | 27When Samuel turned to leave, Saul grabbed the edge of his robe and it tore. |
| 28Samuel told him, "The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel away from you today, and he has given it to your neighbor who is better than you. | 28Samuel said to him, "The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given it to one of your colleagues who is better than you! |
| 29Moreover, the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind, for he's not a man that he should change his mind." | 29The Preeminent One of Israel does not go back on his word or change his mind, for he is not a human being who changes his mind." |
| 30"I've sinned," Saul said. "But please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me so I may worship the LORD your God." | 30Saul again replied, "I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel. Go back with me so I may worship the LORD your God." |
| 31Samuel returned, following Saul, and Saul worshipped the LORD. | 31So Samuel followed Saul back, and Saul worshiped the LORD. |
| 32Then Samuel said, "Bring Agag king of Amalek to me." Agag came to him in fetters, saying to himself, "Surely the bitterness of death is past." | 32Then Samuel said, "Bring me King Agag of the Amalekites." So Agag came to him trembling, thinking to himself, "Surely death is bitter!" |
| 33Samuel said, "Just as your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women." Then Samuel cut Agag into pieces in the LORD's presence in Gilgal. | 33Samuel said, "Just as your sword left women childless, so your mother will be the most bereaved among women!" Then Samuel hacked Agag to pieces there in Gilgal before the LORD. |
| 34Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went to his house in Gibeah of Saul. | 34Then Samuel went to Ramah, while Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul. |
| 35Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul, and the LORD regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel. | 35Until the day he died Samuel did not see Saul again. Samuel did, however, mourn for Saul, but the LORD regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel. |
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